All the King's Men ( An Urban Love Story )

♟️Deal♟️

As Desmond unlocked the front door to his penthouse and walked inside, his nostrils were invaded with the smell of cleaning supplies and food.

He smiled because it really felt like home. It was definitely something he wasn't used to. What is this woman up to?

He looked over and saw the kitchen was spotless and the oven was on. Whatever was cooking smelled delicious. Music could be heard coming from his bedroom as he sat down on the couch to take off his Nikes before going to look for his woman.

The shower was running in his bathroom as he entered the bedroom. His bed was made and all their luggage was also put away. He planned to do that when he got back from his errands.

He stole a glance at Jaden in the shower washing her hair and singing along with the music, "Take me on a place of bliss abroad."

Desmond pulled off his hoodie and shirt and dropped them on the floor as he walked into the bathroom to let his presence be known.

"Hey baby."

"Shit!" Jaden nearly jumped out of her skin, "You scared me."

"I didn't mean to," he smiled mischievously, "Mind if I join you?"

"Like I would tell you no," she smirked, "can you turn the oven off first?" She asked rinsing her hair. She knew once he got in, her shower would be longer than she planned.

"Gotchu." He turned and walked out of the bathroom.

Jaden rinsed the last traces of soap off her body and adjusted the water for Desmond to get in. She didn't want the water to be too hot.

"Done." He walked in taking off his sweats.

As soon as he stepped out of his boxers the doorbell rang through the condo. "Fuck!" He cursed under his breath, "Be right back."

Desmond went to check the security cameras inside his closet and saw it was Marquis.

"What's good Quis," He spoke through the intercom, not wanting to answer the door.

"I needa talk to you. It's important."

Snatching a pair of basketball shorts out of his drawer, he pulled them on and sighed, "Aight, hold up."

Opening the front door, "Everything good?" Desmond asked as Marquis walked inside.

"Nigga, don't be answering the door wit yo shirt off and shit." He cracked. "You ain't even got no draws on wit them shorts."

"Nigga," Desmond stale-faced him, "I'm bout to take a shower, what you want?"

Marquis sat down on one of the couches and sighed. "I thought about what you said, and I want you to let me take over for you." He paused then continued, "I know that's askin' a lot, but I want to handle shit for a minute on my own and see if I can do this." He explained, dropping his head with uncertainty.

"Aight," Desmond shrugged. "Pick yo head up, boy."

Marquis looked up at his friend in confusion, he expected some pushback. "That's it, just aight?"

"I trust you with my life Quis, so why wouldn't I trust you with business? This has always been our business. You handle the shit, I'll handle the other shit. I wanna keep my priorities in check, so I don't mind steppin back."

"Uh oh, she got him pussy whipped." Marquis joked, knowing what he meant.

"I whips pussyyyy" Desmond cracked. "For real though. You my dawg and I know you ain't gon have us all locked up out here."

Marquis stood up from the couch and dapped him before they hugged.

"Now get out so I can go fall in this pussy." He opened the front door.

"Aye, tell that girl her friend did me wrong. Jace told me about that bitch tryna swipe on my shit. She better be glad I don't hit bitches or I woulda went up to her job and fucked her ass up." Marquis said truthfully.

He was hurt that Mina would steal from him, especially when he'd already given her nearly three thousand dollars that night.

"I hate that it happened to you, for real. You just gotta chill, the right one will find you."

"Yeah, maybe you right." Marquis agreed walking down the hallway, "We can't all find love in the strip club."

Desmond closed and locked his door then went back into his bedroom.
Jaden was sitting on the bed in a towel.

"Why you get out?" He said flopping down on the bed belly first next to her.

"I waited as long as I could, but I was getting pruney." She said showing him her hands. "And I'm hungry."

"Oh yeah, what you cook in there, it smells bomb."

"Some roasted chicken, potatoes, and veggies." She said getting up and going into his closet.

"Oh, you cook cook." He joked.

"Shut up fool. I also threw out all that expired ass food you had in the fridge because I'm guessing you don't cook cook," she mocked him.

"You saw all them takeout menus in that drawer? You see this bachelor pad. You think I'm supposed to be cookin'? I clean because I had to fire my cleaning lady after she stole from me." He explained.

Jaden popped her head out the closet to scold him, "Yes Desmond, a twenty-six-year-old man should be cooking and cleaning for himself." She rolled her eyes before disappearing back inside.

"Well, the twenty-five-year-old man I was a few days ago didn't. But how about this, I'll work on learning how to cook, if you help me, deal?" He negotiated.

She walked out of the closet in a black Ethika sports bra and matching boxer shorts. "Deal." She said with her hand stuck out.

Desmond's dick instantly hardened in his basketball shorts. He stalked over to her slowly and shook her hand before playfully grabbing her and slamming her on the bed. Jumping on top of her, he kissed her neck.

"Mooove Desmond, you still gotta take a shower," Jaden tried to fight her arousal.

"Fuck that shower, I want you now."

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